Skills for Great Preaching

Pulling some thoughts from Wayne McDill's "The 12 Essential Skills for Great Preaching." The below is from the introduction. 

• McDill says, "I have been preaching for 35 years but I am still working at it." Encouraging for those of us in the early learning years. :)

• The "why" of a sermon is vital. If the hearer is not persuaded it matters, she will not listen. Or if she listens, will easily forget.

• "Striking content is of real interest to the hearer, even if the delivery is weak."

• "Most Christians hear from rather humble and nondescript pastors week by week" and so, seems to me, we must dare to believe God is at work in them, even them. What else could we think?

• "The great weakness of preaching is fuzzy, ill-defined ideas." Ugh! I say again, ugh!! :)

• "Preaching is a supernatural endeavor. Anyone can learn the necessary skills with discipline, hard work, and a commitment to clear thinking and Bible-based sermons."